Vertical retort for use in the distillation of shale and like materials



Sept. 24, 1929. R. H. CROZIER ,7 vmmcAL RETORT FOR usn IN ran DISTILLATIOI v or SHALE AND LIKE wmmgns Filed July 7, 1925 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT HENRY CROZIER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND VERTICAL BETORT FOR USE IN THE DISTILLATION OI, SHALFl AND LIKE MATERIALS e Application filed July 7, 1925, Serial No. 41,977,'a nd. in Great Britain October 7, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in and connected with vertical retorts for use in the distillationof shale and like materials.

Vertical retorts as at present constructed are built to deal with a definite throughput per day of shale, and when larger quantities of shale are to be dealt with it is ordinarily necessary to erect on the side additional retorts involving at least equal expense to that involved in buildin the original retort. It

would not be possible to increase the crosssectional dimensions of existing retorts for this purpose, because the extension of ,such retorts would produce weakness of the struc- 1 ture and would lead to distortion due to in ability of the existing parts to withstand additional stresses. Moreover, the enlargement of the cross-sectional area of the retort by extension in one direction would ordinarily produce irregular heat-distribution over the retort with superheating of the vapours given off at the sides and incomplete treatment'of the centre portion of the shale. Further quantities of shale can, therefore, bedealt with only by a duplication or multiplication of the apparatus.

I have developed a new form of retort and by anew mode of building the improved retort Iam enabled to extend the retort at a low cost to any desired extent, so as to make it capable of dealing with any quantity of shale and that without affecting the eiiioiency of the retort. By virtue of the invention it is possible for companies in shale-producing areas to commence the production of oil with a small capital outlay for retorts, and gradually to increase the capacity of the orignal plant as funds permit.

In accordance with my invention the retort, which is built of cast iron and surrounded by brickwork affording a space for external heating, and is fitted with vapour traps for drawing off the vapours and gases as they are formed, has a. rectangular body portion, with part-cylindrical ends, and is built up of a plurality of fiat and part-cylindrical standard sections of cast iron, all formed with flanges by which they may be bolted together to form a vertical tube of elongated section and bolted to a supporting base, being connected by bracing members which not only serve-to conduct and distribute the heat throughout the material under treatment, but also to support the sides. Preferably these bracing members are constructed in the form of tubes flanged at their ends to bolt to the flat sections, which are formed with corresponding openings so as to provide internal flues which conduct the heat much more efl'ectively than would mere bracing members.

By providing a plurality of transversely extending flues at intervals of the longitudi nal extension of the retort, I am enabled to distribute the heat over such extended portions, while at the same time bracing the extended structure so as to render it asstrong as the original. I

In order to increase the capacity of such a retort it is only necessary to extend the length of the retort by taking down one end of the surrounding brickwork, detaching the part-cylindricalend sections and correspond ing sections at the base of that end, attaching'in lieu thereof additional flat sections and bracing members, attaching to the added sections the old part-cylindrical sections, and enclosing the extended retort again in the brickwork.

When the bracing members are in the form of internal fines, such flues are made of substantially oval sections with the major axis vertical and with the part of the wall adjacent to the upper end of the major axis much thicker than the parts adjacent the ends of the minor axis, so as to provide for wear due to constant rubbing of the shale over such part, and the better to support the weight of the shale and permit a greater heat penetration through the sides. The upper outer surface is formed as a ridge to prevent the shale from resting thereon.

A portion of the lower surface may be extended to afford-vapour traps and any steam desired may be introduced by way of perforations in the casting of the internal fines.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a retort c0n= structed in accordance with the invention,

2 is a transverse section showing only Fig. 3 is a transverse section through an, 1nternal flue,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, while Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 of a modified form of internal flue.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the retort consists of atubular structure A, surrounded b brickwork B, affording an external flue C or heating the retort externally, and a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced internal bracing flues D extending through the retort, so as to heat the centre of the mass of shale, and a number of vapour traps E vertically spaced by which the va ours and gases may be withdrawn as forme As shown in the detail views, the retort is built up of a plurality of flat sections F, formed with flanges by which they are bolted together along both their horizontal and vertical edges, and a plurality of semi-cylindrical end sections G. Each of the flat sections, or one of each group of flat sections, is formed with an opening or openings H, which come opposite an internal flue D.

The flues D are of oval cross section and are each formed on the to with a ridge preventing the collecting of t e mater'ial thereon and are made thicker at the top than at the sides, so as the better to withstand wear. These flues D, in addition to providing for the heating of the mass of shale or the like within the centre of the retort, serve to brace the structure and to prevent it from collapsing or distorting.

As shown in Fig. 5, a portion of the lower surface of the 'flues' D may be extended to form vapour traps leading to outlets H. Steam for the retort is introduced conveniently through a passage S in the casting leading to outlets S. e

In order to increase the capacity of the retort, the length is extended by taking down one end of the surrounding brickwork B, de-

taching the semi-c lindrical end sections G and the corres on ing section of the base at that end, attac ing in lieu thereof additional flat sections F with internal flues D, attaching to the added sections the old semi-cylindrical sections and enclosing the extended retort in brickwork.

I claim:

1. A retort for the distillation of bituminous -material comprising a plurality of flanged, flat side sections having a plurality of apertures therein and semi-cylindrical end sections,'a flue surrounding the retort, and inclined tubular bracing members having terminal flanges adapted to be detachab y secured to opposite flat sections around the apertures therein.

2. A retort for the distillation of bitumigases therethrough,

nous material comprising a plurality of flanged, flat side sections having a plurality of apertures therein, semi-cylindrical end sections, and tubular bracing members ofoval cross section connecting opposite side sections and communicating with said apertures to permit the passage of heated gases therethrough, each of said bracing members H lp mg the ma or axis of its cross section vertical and the top portion of its wall of greater thickness than the side portions and taperedv to an external ridge extending longitudinally thereof.

3. A retort for the distillation of bituminous material comprising a plurality of flanged, flat side sections having a plurality of apertures therein, semi-cylindrical end sections, and tubular bracing members of oval cross-section connecting opposite side sections and communicating with said apertures to permit the passage of heated gases therethrough, each of said bracing members being provided with an extension adapted to form a vapor withdrawal channel and having the major axis of its cross section vertical and the top portion of its wall of greater thickness than the side portions and tapered to an external ridge extending longitudinally thereof.

4. A retort for the distillation of bituminous material comprising a plurality of flanged, fiat side sections having a plurality of apertures therein, semi-cylindrical end sections, and tubular bracing members of oval cross section connecting opposite side sections and communicating with saidapertures to permit the passage of heated gases there each of said bracing members provided with a plurality of steam passages through,

the wall thereof and having the major axis of its cross section vertical and the top portion 7 of its wall of greater thickness than the side portions and tapered to an external ridge extending longitudinally thereof- 5. A retort for the distillation of bituminous material comprising a plurality of detachably'connected flanged, flat side sections having a plurality of apertures therein, semicylindrical end sections, and tubular bracing members of oval cross-section connecting opposite side-sections and communicating with said apertures to permit the passage of heated at least one of said bracing members being provided with an extent sion on the bottom portion of its wall adapted to form a vapor withdrawal channel and each of said bracing members having the major axis of its cross-section vertical and the top portion of its wall of greater thickness than the side portions and tapered to an external ridge extending longitudinally."thereof.

6: A retort for the distillation of bituminous material comprising a plurality of flanged flat side sections having apertures therein offset from the center of such sections, semicylindri'cal end sections, a flue surrounding the retort, and tubular bracing members having terminal flanges adapted to be detachably secured at opposite end sectionsaround the apertures therein in inclined relation to said side sections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

R. H. CROZIER. 

